More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

Get a FREE 2 oz Bath & Body Works lotion when you Like them on Facebook. 

Get a FREE 2 oz Bath & Body Works lotion when you Like them on Facebook. Coupon is good in-stores this weekend and can be redeemed online (shipping charges apply if redeemed online). Choose from 3 fragrances. Click on Wall after you Like them and the post with the coupon link is near the top.

FREE 2 oz. Bath & Body Works lotion

NEW YORK — A man set himself on fire Friday afternoon near the lower Manhattan courthouse where jurors were being chosen for the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

Man Sets Himself on Fire Near Courthouse Where Trump Is on Trial

Trump Trial Enters Fourth Day With Opening Arguments Next Week

Storms moved east Friday in central North Carolina. Over the weekend, the Triangle will feel a cooldown due to an incoming cold front.

Storms move east in North Carolina ⛈️; cooldown coming this weekend

Level 1 risk for severe storms Friday 

The crash involved a school bus from Corinth Holders Elementary School at North Carolina Highway 96 and Earpsboro Road in Johnston County, according to authorities.

Johnston County school bus involved in crash on NC 96 

UNC staff and hospital executives got their first looks at the product of the years-long construction project: a new hospital dedicated entirely to surgery.

New UNC surgical hospital to bring more beds, new procedures to patients

A man is in critical condition after an attempt to snorkel in the pool at a Cary gym.

Snorkeler hospitalized after incident in pool at Cary Lifetime Fitness

Cary location of near-drowining

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Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

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Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Gov. Roy Cooper joins United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to make a clean energy announcement.

Gov. Cooper makes clean energy announcement

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Videos

The Carolina Hurricanes are no stranger to playoff hockey. They're in the postseason for the sixth-straight season and are regarded as a Stanley Cup contender.

Chaotic Canes hope late-season surge continues into playoffs

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Mark Mitchell announced he has committed to the University of Missouri in a post to his Instagram post.

Former Duke forward Mark Mitchell commits to Missouri

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Game 1 is Saturday night in Raleigh. Game 2 is Monday at PNC Arena.

Make your plans: Complete Hurricanes-Islanders first-round schedule

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General manager Don Waddell likes how his Carolina Hurricanes finished the season, winning 16 of their final 21 games. He knows it means nothing now.